The Yankees should have lost Friday’s game to the Mets, did lose Saturday’s game, and now look to save face by sending A.J. Burnett to the mound against Johan Santana. This is the same A.J. Burnett who failed to get out of the third inning against the Red Sox in his last start.
If there’s good news, it’s that after posting a 0.78 ERA over his first seven starts, Santana has been human over his last five, posting a 4.64 and giving up eight home runs, including four to the Phillies his last time out.
Nick Swisher’s back in the lineup today. Francisco Cervelli will catch Burnett while Jorge Posada rides pine. Cervelli has never caught Burnett before, but opposing batters have hit .330/.406/.591 off Burnett in the four games Posada has caught him. Hideki Matsui starts at DH against the lefty Santana because Matsui has hit .333/.368/.556 in 19 plate appearances against Santana in his career. The small-sample caveat applies in both cases.
